related:
Ghislaine Maxwell trial Judge Alison Nathan to be recommended to higher court
US District Judge Alison J. Nathan will be recommended for an appointment to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Sen. Chuck Schumer announced Tuesday.
In 2011, Schumer had recommended Nathan for her current job in New York City, as a judge in the Southern District of New York.
https://nypost.com/2021/11/16/ghislaine-maxwell-trial-judge-alison-nathan-recommended-to-higher-court/
Sounds to this anon like a deal was cut with the judge.